OSU football notebook: Mike Gundy not commenting on Sports Illustrated story

“Avoiding distractions” is one of Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy's favorite catchphrases when describing the keys to having a successful football program.

Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy watches game action during the second half of a college football game between the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners (UTSA) and the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

An outside distraction will soon be inevitable, however, with an upcoming Sports Illustrated project expected to reveal allegations of multiple past improprieties within the OSU program that range from drug use to academic fraud to paying players for performance to hostesses providing sex to recruits.

Yet Gundy doesn't anticipate his current crop of players to concern themselves very much with the report.

“My personal opinion is the players go about their daily activity,” Gundy said on his Sunday evening media teleconference. “They persevere through everything, and they could (not) probably care less, to be honest with you.”

When asked specifically about the allegation that former assistant Joe DeForest paid players for performance as recently as 2011, Gundy would not comment.

“I can't speak on any of this,” Gundy said. “You guys (the media) know that. It's not even worth wasting your time on asking me the question. There will be a time when we comment, but now is not the time.”